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Monday, December 17, 2012

Landorus EX/Darkrai EX - Smashing through Cities

Hammerhead+Hammers=????

Hello everyone!

Sorry for the lack of updates last week, but my life i so hectic at the moment
that I haven’t almost had time for even playing Pokémon TCG. However, as my
Japanese trip is nearing, things will change after that. For now, let’s take a
look at the deck analysis of today. The deck I will discuss today have done
fairly well in CCs and in the beginning of CC-season, I thought it wouldn’t
make much of an impact since Ether wasn’t released. Surprisingly though, the
deck stand against the metagame decks and become a tier1 (or a tier2 at least).

In this entry, I’ll take a look at two kinds of Darkrai/Landorus builds: the
standard build and the build I was going to play in Cities, but couldn’t,
because I didn’t get my hands on Landorus EXs. At this point of the season it’s
easy to say that Landorus EX is one of the most dominant forces in the
metagame, so I hope this entry will help you to recognize the strengths and
weaknesses of these builds.

Surprisingly Sableye isn’t a must card in this deck
even though you run a lot of discarding cards and cards that work well with
Sableye. However, Sableye is still very good in this particular deck due the
high amout of discarding cards and Darkrai EXs typing. The reason why Sableye
isn’t a must card in this deck is that the deck wants to be aggressive with
Landorus EX and even with Darkrai EX. As we all know, T1 Landorus EX can put
huge early pressure against stage decks like Eelektrik and Darkrai EX. When
going first, T1 Landorus EX can win you the game in just a matter of turns and
this gives you a greater advantage in the match-ups than e.g. Junk Hunting
would give you even with Computer Search.

Landorus EX

Landorus is the first main attacker of this deck. Everyone should know just
how powerful Landorus EX is and it’s been dominating the Cities like no other
Pokémon. Even though Ether isn’t even around yet! Landorus EX is at its best in
the early game putting pressure on your opponent. And in this deck it’s not too
difficult to get a T1 Landorus EX since Darkrai EX can give any of your Pokémon
in the early game a free retreat. Combine this ability with Dark Patches and
Energy Switches and you have yourself a very decent amount of T1 Landorus EXs
and T2 Darkrai EXs.

Darkrai EX

The deck is funny, because it pretty much is Darkrai EX/Mewtwo EX all over
again. Just combine the strongest EXs in the format and you have a winning
concept. Darkrai EX will probably be among the top3 strongest cards in the
format as long as it is in the format. It has huge HP; a broken ability and a
very strong attack. Its only weakness is its weakness, but thanks to supporting
cast, the weakness only makes Darkrai EX a mortal card.

Terrakion

Terrakion can be considered as a tech, but I believe that if you already
run Fighting energy, there is simply no reason not-to-run Terrakion. Terrakion
OHKOs your opponent’s Darkrai EXs with two energy, which is enough to justify
playing it. And that’s pretty much its role in this deck – just drop it
whenever you need a revenge KO on your opponent’s Darkrai EX or Bouffalant. With
Energy Switches, your opponent will fear Terrakion every time he/she KOs
something.

Mewtwo EX

What would any big EX mash-up deck be without this big boy? Nothing at all.
Mewtwo EX’s only function in this deck is to prevent your opponent from taking
advantage of overloaded Mewtwo EXs. A 8 energy Mewtwo EX already OHKOs everything
in your deck, so if you don’t want to get ran over, you want to play at least
one copy of Mewtwo EX in your deck in order to counter your opponents’ Mewtwo
EXs.

Professor Juniper – N – Bianca

What can I say. Professor Juniper is the best supporter out there. The
second best is N. And Bianca is arguably the third. Most decks want to run only
these cards as their supporters, so there isn’t too much to analyze. However,
some decks even want to run…

Skyla

In the early season I was no fan of Skyla, but I’ve taking liking on it,
the more I’ve found space in my decks. It still doesn’t add the deck’s
consistency as much as the traditional supporters, but searching for any card
(with the help from Computer Search) is handy from time to time. Also, Skyla
can search for cards like Tool Scrapper or PlusPower, which is very crucial if
you’re willing to OHKO e.g. Darkrai EX with Terrakion.

Ultra Ball

The best Ball
out there. Period.

Pokémon Catcher

Pokémon Catchers plays a huge role in the format, but it pretty much
defines these decks. Without it, these decks wouldn’t be even nearly as
powerful. But as we have Catcher in the format, there is nowhere to run from
the wrath of Landorus EX in the early game. You can’t wall in this format
thanks to Catcher, so speed is often the key to victory. All you have to do is
adjust to that.

Computer Search (vs. Gold Potion)

Computer Search is interesting, as I discussed in my tournament report.
Gold Potion won me games since I didn’t have Computer Search with me, but just
how good Computer Search really is? With Skyla, I believe it’s as game-breaking
as Gold Potion can be. However, Computer Search is good in all situations and
that’s what makes it better than Gold Potion. It’s difficult to be a
situational Trainer in the current format, because whenever you draw a prize
card, you are often N’d and forced to shuffle your hand back to deck. Computer
Search is good whenever you draw it from the deck, but your game plan can fail
completely if you’re counting on drawing Gold Potion at the right moment.

Eviolite

Eviolite is one of the most important cards in this deck. You often want to
attach it to Darkrai EX if your opponent runs Terrakion. If you want to survive
with Darkrai EX after Retalite, you’ll need Eviolite on your Darkrai EX. AND if
you are able to survive even one Retaliate alive, you’ll have a very strong
board position. The current metagame is all about hitting just the right amount
of damage at the right moment and Eviolite is able to shake-up your opponent’s
plans since it messes the math completely.

Tool Scrapper

Tool Scrapper on the other hand is the anti-Eviolite. Of course it can also
be used against Garbodor, but mostly you’ll want to remove your opponent’s Eviolites
and OHKO or 2HKO their big EXs. Even if your deck doesn’t run any abilities,
Tool Scrapper should be a must card there, because that’s the only way to
guarantee that you’ll hit the right amount at the right time. Otherwise your
opponent’s Eviolites are able to turn things around.

PlusPower

Pluspower is the third and last part of the “right amount at the right time”-series.
However, it also helps you in the early game with Landorus EX. Getting that
extra 10 damage (or 20 if they are weak to you) can win you the game later on. This
deck hits on your opponent’s bench almost every turn, so getting those extra
damages to the active Pokémon can be game-changing. It’s a pity that PlusPower
doesn’t add bench damage.

Energy Switch - Dark Patch

Dark Patch is pretty self-explanatory in this deck, but what makes energy
acceleration interesting is Energy Switch. Energy Switch enables
surprise-Terrakions, OHKO on your opponent’s overloaded Mewtwo EXs with your
own Mewtwo EX. Combined with Dark Patch, Energy Switch makes your deck also a
lot faster. If you happen to open with Sableye, you’re almost guaranteed to get
a T2 Darkrai EX with this kind of energy acceleration and supporters + Computer
Search. Without Energy Switch this deck wouldn’t be even nearly as good as
with. However, as I’ll discuss soon, you are able to play the deck without
Energy Switches when correctly built.

Energy

Nothing too surprising here. I’m just not sure about the split. 7 Darkness
and 6 Fighting has worked for me well, but so has even a 8-5 split. One of my
versions played 7-7, but I soon noticed that 7 Fighting energy was too much
since you’re mostly attacking with Darkrai EX in the mid and late game.

Tech Options

Stadiums

Trust me, whenever you’re facing a Blastoise/Keldeo
EX, you’ll pray for a stadium, because they get set-upped far too well with
their Tropical Beach. But no reason to worry, you have good options for your
deck as well. Mostly you want to play Battle City, because it’s very neutral.
However, if you’re planning on playing Tornadus EX in this deck as well, a
Skyarrow Bridge is a good option as well. I prefer Battle City, because against
most decks Skyarrow Bridge is better for your opponent than to yourself and
some decks even play Skyarrow Bridge so it can become a dead weight. However,
with Battle City you’re able to counter any played Stadium in the format.

Energy Search

Energy Search is a very good card in this deck, if you
want to make sure that you get the T1 Landorus EX. You can search for Energy
Search with Skyla and you can just replace 1-3 enery slots with Energy Searches
if you want to. It can also be reused with Junk Hunt, which makes it an
interesting option when aiming at the T2 Night Spear when opening with Sableye.
The card is surprisingly good in this deck even though you don’t run Ho-Oh EX.

Max Potion / Potion

Gold Potion is good, but so is Max Potion and Potion
in this deck. Landorus EX attacks with one energy, so obviously it works well
with Max Potion. However, the reason why Potion is good is the same as with
Eviolite, Tool Scrapper and Eviolite – it can mess up your opponent’s
calculations. Potion works well with both – Darkrai EX and Landorus EX and it
will win you games if you can find room for it. It’s especially good in Darkrai
EX vs. Darkrai EX match-ups.

Bouffalant

Bouffalant is one of the cards that have only been
recently gotten the appreciation it deserves. It’s the best anti-EX card in the
format. It’s very good in this deck, because it can turn the EX-prize race
upside down, but it’s good to remember that since the deck doesn’t run DCEs,
you don’t get the full potential out of Bouffalant in this deck. That doesn’t
necessarily mean that Bouffalant is unplayable in this deck, it’s just
challenging to get at the correct time.

Tornadus EX

Tornadus EX is the best if you’re facing a complete
mirror match-up. It stops Landorus EX completely and even Terrakion has tough
time against it. However, it’s still very easy to avoid Tornadus EX with
Catchers etc. I wouldn’t play Tornadus EX in this deck since you don’t run
DCEs, but if you’re having a tough time against Fighting decks, you may
consider Tornadus EX as your anti-ex card.

The Hammerbuild

This is the list I was going to play in the Regionals,
I played 2 weeks ago, but couldn’t play, because failed at getting hands on
Landorus EXs. I really like the built even though it’s pretty unorthodox
compared to the standard build.

The reason why I enjoy the deck is that it’s
aggressive in two ways: it can hit with Landorus EX or Darkrai EX in the early
turns and when facing a non-energy acceleration deck, it can get aggressive
with Hammers. This works extremely well even against mirror matches since
Eviolite + Sableye is a complete nightmare for Landorus EX. As long as you are
facing a Landorus deck without Darkrai EX, they are completely helpless if you
run Potions since they only hit low damage when you have Eviolite on your
Sableye. This strategy will take patience, but if you’re willing to believe in
the power of Hammers, you’ll win the games and keep your opponent’s frustrated.
However, remember: Hammespam doesn’t work against decks that energy accelerate
or have Sableye.

I also want to emphasize how good Skyla is in this variant. With Skyla, you can
choose the path you want to go. It’s Hammer way or high way. You can do this
decision in the early game, but you must remember to stay with the strategy you
decided in the early game. Whenever playing with a Hammer variant it’s
important to know that once you have chosen the strategy, you must believe in
it. I have seen a lot of players playing Hammer variants and not believing in
Hammerspam, changing their strategy in the mid-game and losing the game
miserably due their loss of focus on the correct strategy.

Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed the article! I’m also sorry once
again for the delay, but sometimes life gets so hectic that even I don’t have
time to write Pokémon TCG articles! I’ll try to increase the article counts
next year and I already have some great new entry idea for myself and how to
keep myself motivated for writing even though I’m busy.

As always, feel free to comment on anything, ask anything and give suggestions
for my future articles. I haven’t had time to write and one of the reasons was
the lack of article ideas, so any ideas are more than welcome. However, don’t
worry, I’ll have once again a very special Christmas Eve –entry ;)

Nice article! I really enjoyed this one especially because I'm running something similar. I noticed that in your hammer build, there was no terrakion. Is this because of lack of space, or is terrakion not as good in that deck?